3 keys for the Giants to pull off an upset over the Bears on Sunday

The Giants have to be careful they don’t get shut out Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The Chicago Bears (8-3) have won five in a row and boast one of the NFL’s best defenses, which has held opponents to 16 or fewer points in three of the last five games.

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Backup Bears quarterback Chase Daniel is expected to make a second straight start in place of injured starter Mitchell Trubisky, but Chicago still presents plenty of matchup problems for the Giants (3-8) all over the field.

Here are three keys for the Giants to try and keep it close and pull off the unlikely upset:

TAKE CARE OF THE BALL

The Giants can’t win this game if they turn the ball over, and it will be difficult to avoid doing so.

The Bears’ defense baits offenses to throw as the NFL’s second-ranked run defense (80.8 yards per game) and 11th-ranked pass D (235.3 yards per game). But passing the ball plays into the hands of Chicago’s best playmakers. The Bears’ defense ranks first in the NFL in interceptions (20) — led by corner Kyle Fuller (five) and free safety Eddie Jackson (four) — and first in total takeaways (29). And any time Eli Manning drops back to pass, he’ll also have to deal with edge rusher Khalil Mack, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. The Bears allow the third-fewest points per game (19.2) to opponents and the fourth-fewest yards per game (316.1 yards). As Odell Beckham Jr. said on Thursday: “It’s definitely not going to be easy.”

Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (Duane Burleson / AP)

WIN THE MISMATCHES ON ‘D’

The Giants’ best pass defenders are on the outside, but many of the Bears’ top receivers are on the inside. RB Tarik Cohen (four TD catches), TE Trey Burton (five TDs) and slot receiver Anthony Miller (five TDs) all are productive alternatives to top outside receiver Taylor Gabriel (team-high 51 catches and 527 yards, plus two TDs). That puts pressure on Giants strong safety Landon Collins, linebacker Alec Ogletree and rookie slot corner Grant Haley to win the matchups that have given the Giants problems in the passing game for years, including this season. Daniel is not as mobile or talented as Trubisky, but he completed 27-of-37 passes for 230 yards and two TDs in a Thanksgiving Day 23-16 win at Detroit. The Giants’ best chance to keep this game close is to avoid turnovers and at least force Daniel to go the length of the field.

TURN THE STARS LOOSE

The Bears are a much better team than the Giants, but the reason Big Blue always thinks it has a chance is because of its stars who are capable of changing any game with one big play, with Beckham, Saquon Barkley, Collins and Janoris Jenkins at the top of the list. Whether it’s one of them or kick returner Corey Coleman or an unlikely hero blocking a Bears punt or field goal, Pat Shurmur needs people to step up and make splash plays. And of course, Manning needs to do his part by seeing and hitting his receivers when they’re open downfield while avoiding turnovers. Otherwise, this game could get out of hand and backup QB Alex Tanney could be making his Giants debut by the third quarter.

THE INJURY REPORT

GIANTS: TE Evan Engram (hamstring) and LB B.J. Goodson (neck) are out. LB Lorenzo Carter (hip) is questionable. DL Kerry Wynn is out of the concussion protocol and will play.